Tobacco feeding apparatus



May 24,1938.

J. W. GILES TOBACCO FEEDING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 11, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet1 INVENTOR w WW 4, 1938. J. w. GILES TOBACCO FEEDING APPARATUS FiledNov. 11,

INVENTOR BY 1 a? /4 ATTORNEY May 24, W38. J. w. GiL

TOBACCO FEEDING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 11: 1936 4 Sheets-Shee1t 5 ATTORNEY J. N. GILES TOBACCO FEEDING APPARATUS May 24, 1938.

4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed. Nov. 11, 1936 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented May 24, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE" TOBACCO FEEDINGAPPARATUS Joseph W. Giles, Philadelphia, .Pas.

J. W. Giles, Inc., Philadelphia, tion of Pennsylvania assignor to Pa...a corpora- Application November 11, 1936, SerialNo. 110,249

15 Claims.

measuring device, novel means for actuating the measuring device, andnovel means for moving the'oharge of tobacco delivered from themeasuring device into the pocket of the rolling apron of a cigarbunching machine.

With the above and other objects in view as will hereinafter clearlyappear, my invention comprehends a novel and simplified apparatus forfeeding measured quantities of scrap tobacco.

Other novel features of construction and advantage will hereinafterappear in the detailed description and the appended claims.

For: the purpose of illustrating the invention I have shown in theaccompanying drawings a typicalembodiment of it, which, in practice willgive satisfactory and reliable results. It is, however, to be understoodthat the various instrumentalities of which my invention consistscan bevariously arranged and organized, and my invention is not limited to theexact arrangement and organization of these instrumentalities as hereinset forth.

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a tobacco feeding apparatusembodying myinvention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation.

Figure 3 is a side elevation similar to Figure 2 but partly broken awayand showing certain of the parts in a different position.

Figure 4 is a side elevation showing more particularly the measuringdevice, funnel, shutter and their adjuncts.

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the cam in a position it assumes duringthe operation.

Figure 6 is a detail of a frame.

Figure '7 is a detail of a shutter operating means.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a scoop.

Figure 9 is a perspective view, partly broken away, of the measuringdevice.

Similar numerals indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings:-

I designates a tobacco container of circular formation, and open at itstop to receive the scrap tobacco.

The apparatus is driven in any desired manher, for example by anelectric motor 2 having a sprocket wheel 3 around which passes a chain 4which also passes around a sprocket wheel 5 to a shaft 6 suitablyjournalled in the container I. An arm l is fixed at one end to the shaft5 and a scoop 8 is fixed to the offset freeend of the shaft so that ittravels in proximity to the inner wall of the container I. During eachrevolution of the shaft 6, the scoop 8 removes a quantity of tobaccofrom the container. The arm 1 is made in sections. One section has slots9, see Figure 3, and the other section has screws III which providemeans to effect the longitudinal adjustment of the arm I. Theconstruction of the scoop 8 is best seen in- Figure 8 from which it willbe seen that the scoop-has a rear member II from which aninner sidemember l2 flares forwardly, side flanges I3 and a bottom flange M.

The tobacco is discharged from the scoop 8 into a novel chute l5 havingspaced bottom plates l6 which form a slot l1 and adjustable side platesl8. I'he side Walls are pivotally connectedat 19 to the bottom plates,and at their forward ends are provided with brackets 2 which are fixedin their adjusted position by fastening devices 2| passing through slots22 in the'bottom plates. The bottom plates have arms 23 fixed to a rockshaft 24 journalled inthe tobacco container. This rock shaft is rockedby an arm 25 fixed'thereto and-pivotally connected with a link 26piv'otally connected to a lever 21 fulcrumed at 28 and having'a roller29 which cooperates with a cam 30 on the shaft 6.

The tobacco discharges from the chute into a measuring device 3| in theform of a bucket having a bottom wall, side walls, end walls and anopentop. This bucket is fixed in any desired manner to a rock shaft 32.An arm 33 is pivotally connected with a link 34 pivotally connected to alever 35, fulcrumed at 36 on the container I and having a roller 31.This roller 31 travels in a cam groove 38 of a cam 39 fixed on the shaft6. A spring 40 has one end connected to the pivotal connection of thelink 34 and the lever 35, and its opposite end is connected to a fixedpoint on the apparatus, see Figure 4. A cam member 4|, see Figures 1 and4, is fixed to the rock shaft 32 and has a cam face 42 cooperatin with aroller 43 on an arm 44 fixed to a rock shaft 45 which also carries abattle 46 which has its movement in an outward direction limited by astop rod 4-1. The bucket 3| is between side plates 48, which contributeto form a funnel, the bottom of which is closed by an inclined shut.-ter 49. The upper end of the shutter normally rests against a stop 50,and its lower end portion is fixed to a rock shaft 5|. An arm 52 fixedto the rock shaft 5] has one end of a spring .53 connected to it, theother end of such spring being secured to a fixed point of theapparatus.

The front of the funnel is formed by a reciprocatory frame 54 havingrollers 55 travelling in guide slots 56 in side frame members 51, seeFigure 1. A link 58 is connected with the frame and with a lever 59fulcrumed at 60 and having a roller 6| which travels in the cam groove38 of the cam 39.

The gate 54 has fixed to it a bar 62, by fastening devices 63 passingthrough a slot 64 in a side member of the fixed frame. The bar 62 ispositioned so that during the downward movement of the reciprocatoryframe 54 it contacts a roller 65 on an arm 66 fixed to. the rock shaft5| to cause the shutter 49 to move from the position seen in Figure 2 tothat seen in Figure 3.

A plunger 61 is provided to press the tobacco into the pocket of theapron of the rolling or bunch forming machine.

The plunger 61 is connected by a longitudinally adjustable-link 68 witha lever 69 fulcrumed at 19 and providedhwith a roller 1| which travelsin the cam groove 38 of the cam39. A lever 12 controlled bythe cam 3|!controls in the conventional manner the apron of the rolling or bunchforming mechanism 13.

The operation of my novel tobacco feeding apparatus will now be apparentto those skilled in this art and is as follows:

Assuming now that the scrap tobacco has been placed in'the tobaccocontainer and the motor started, the shaft 6 will be revolved in thedirection of thearrow seen in Figure 2 thereby causing the scoop 8carried by its arm 1 to pass into the container as shown in Figure 3 inproximity to the bottom of the container and remove a quantity oftobacco and discharge it into the chute |5, and therefrom into themeasuring device -3|. The arm 1 of the scoop 8 passes through the slot Hin the chute l5, and the chute is rocked from the position seen inFigure 2 to that seen in Figure 3 to permit the scoop 8 to pass beyondit. 'Ihisis-causedby the roller 29 of cam lever- 28 passing down the camface 14 to the dwell portion 15. V

The roller 29 next engages the cam face 16 to return the chute to theposition seen in Figure 2, in which it isretained by the face 11 of thecam 30.

The charge of tobacco is now in the measuring device or bucket 3|.

The inner wall of the cam groove 38 of the cam 39 has a depression 18 sothat when the cam 39 reaches the position seen in Figure 5 the roller 31'will pass into such depression and through its cam lever 35, the link34 and cam 33 rocks the rock shaft 32 and thereby imparts a shakingmovement to the measuring device 3| to effect the removal of any excesstobacco contained therein.

The next operation is to discharge the meas ured charge of tobacco fromthe measuring device 3| into the funnel.

The cam 39 now moves into the position seen in Figure 4 causing the camlever 35, link 34 and cam 35 to rock the-rock shaft 32 to which themeasuring device 3|. is fixed discharging the measured charge'of tobaccointo the funnel where it rests on the shutter 49. As the roller 43leaves the cam face 42 the arm 44, rocks shaft 45 and baffle 46 movesfrom the position seen in Figure 3 to that seen in Figure 4, the baffleresting against the stop rod 41. s v

The roller 6| of cam lever 59 now reaches the high point of the camgroove 38 causing the frame 54 to move downwardly. This frame 54includes a plate 8| which closes the front end of the funnel. The bar 62on the frame 54 engaging the roller 65 rocks the arm 66 and rock shaft5| thereby moving the shutter 49 from the position seen in Figure 2 intothat seen in Figure 3 and the measured charge of tobacco for making abunch of the predetermined size is discharged into the pocket of therolling apron.

The plunger 61 now moves downwardly to press the tobacco into the pocketof the apron. This is effected by the cam 39 rocking the lever 59 andcausing the link 68 to move downwardly the plunger 61.

As the cam 39 revolves the shutter 39 is returned to its normal positionand the measuring device 3| is returned to its receiving position, andthe cycle of the operation is repeated.

The cam 4| returns to its initial position and the roller 43 engagingthe cam returns the baffle 46 toits initial position seen in Figure 3.The roller 43 cooperates with the cam face 42 to retain the measuringdevice 3| stationary when in position to receive tobacco from the chuteI5.

In accordance with this invention, I eliminate the necessity ofemploying a knife to cut off the surplus tobacco and also the formationof a hard bunch.

The tobacco in the measuring device is not subjected to pressure and aloose fluify bunch is formed which provides for a free smoking cigar.

The measuring device may have an adjustable false bottom 19 which can beraised or lowered by a screw 80 and which may have any desired contourdepending on the shape of the finished cigar. In Figure 9 I have shownthis bottom curved so that the bunch will be thicker at its centralportion than it is at its end portions.

It will now be apparent that I have devised a new and useful tobaccofeeding apparatus which embodies the features of advantage enumerated asdesirable in the statement of the invention and the above description,and while I have, in the present instance, shown and described apreferred embodiment thereof which will give in practice satisfactoryand reliable results, it is to be understood that this embodiment issusceptible of modification in various particulars without departingfrom the spirit or scope of the invention or sacrificing any of itsadvantages.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

.1. In a tobacco feeding apparatus, a tobacco container, means to scooptobacco from said container, a chute receiving tobacco from said means,a tobacco measuring device pivotally supported and into which tobacco isdischarged from said chute, a cam on said container, means cooperatingwith said cam to agitate said measuring'device to cause it to contain apredetermined charge, and means to actuate said measuring device toempty it.

2. In a tobacco feeding apparatus, a tobacco container, means to scooptobacco from said container, a chute receiving tobacco from said means,a tobacco measuring device into which tobacco is discharged from saidchute, means to agitate said measuring device to cause it to contain apredetermined charge, a cam on said containen'means cooperating withsaid cam to actuate said measuring device to empty it, a funnel toreceive the charge from said device and having a movable bottom, amember closing the front end of said funnel, means to move said bottomto form a charge receiving space between it and said member, and meansto move the measured charge from said space.

3. In a tobacco feeding apparatus, a measuring device, means to feedtobacco thereto, means to impart a shaping movement to said measuringdevice while in its tobacco receiving position to remove excess tobaccoover a predetermined charge, and means to deliver said charge to adesired point of utilization.

4. In a tobacco feeding apparatus, a rockable measuring device, means tofeed tobacco thereto, means to impart a shaking movement to said devicewhile in its tobacco receiving position to remove excess tobacco and tothereafter rock said device to discharge tobacco therefrom, and means toretain said device in its tobacco receiving position.

5. In a tobacco feeding apparatus, a rock shaft, a measuring devicefixed thereto, a cam on said shaft, means cooperating with said cam tonormally hold said device stationary, and a cam controlling the rockingof said shaft and having a cam face to rock said shaft to agitate saiddevice to remove excess tobacco prior to discharge of tobacco therefrom.

6. In a tobacco feeding apparatus, a rock shaft, a measuring bucketfixed thereto, a cam on said shaft, a pivoted deflector, means connectedtherewith and cooperating with said cam to hold said device stationary,means to rock said shaft to agitate said device to remove excess tobaccotherefrom, and to thereafter effect the delivery of a measured chargefrom said measuring device.

7. In a tobacco feeding apparatus, a measuring bucket pivotallysupported, a funnel having a pivoted shutter at its bottom, areciprocatory frame in front of said shutter, means to empty said bucketinto said funnel, means to reciprocate said frame, means on said shutterin the path of the downward movement of the frame and contacted by theframe to move said shutter to form with the frame a delivery space, andplunger means movable in said space to feed the tobacco therefrom.

8. In a tobacco feeding apparatus, a tobacco container, means to scooptobacco therefrom, a chute through which said means passes, means tomove said chute to permit the passage of said means, a measuring devicereceiving tobacco from said chute, means to actuate said device to causeit to retain a determined charge, and means to deliver said charge in aloose, fluffy, condition to a bunching machine.

9. In a tobacco feeding apparatus, a container, a scoop havingsubstantially the shape of a dust pan With the open side of the panpresented to the periphery of the container, means to revolve said scoopin said container to remove tobacco therefrom in a loose, fluffy,condition.

10. In a tobacco feeding apparatus, a container, a driven shaft mountedtherein, a scoop actuated by said shaft, a pivoted chute having a slottherethrough and receiving tobacco from said scoop, a cam on said shaftoperatively connected with said chute to actuate it, and means tomeasure the tobacco passing from said chute into predetermined uniformcharges, each of the proper amount to form a bunch of predeterminedsize.

11. In a tobacco feeding apparatus, a tobacco container of circularformation and open at its top, a driven shaft, an arm thereonlongitudinally adjustable, a pan shaped scoop on said arm, a sectionalchute through which said arm passes, and cam means on said shaft to rocksaid chute to permit the scoop to pass by it.

12. In a tobacco feeding apparatus, a tobacco container, a scoop totravel through said container and having an outer wall and an innerwall, the outer wall being of less depth than the inner wall, and meansto actuate said scoop.

13. In a tobacco feeding apparatus, a container, a scoop within thecontainer, an arm carrying said scoop, a chute having a slot to permitsaid arm to pass through it, means to revolve said arm, in thecontainer, and means to rock said chute to permit said scoop to passbetween it and the container.

14. In a tobacco feeding apparatus, a rock shaft, a measuring bucketcarried by said rock shaft, a cam fixed to said rock shaft and providedwith a cam face, a baille above the bucket controlled by said cam face,and cam means to turn said shaft and during such turning impart to it ashaking movement to remove excess tobacco from the bucket.

15. In a tobacco feeding apparatus, a rock shaft, a measuring bucketfixed to said shaft, cam means, and means to turn said shaft to move thebucket into discharging position and to shake the shaft during the firstpart of its turning movement to remove excess tobacco from the bucket.

JOSEPH W. GILES.

